Time recorder having associated intermittent biometric sensor and comparison apparatus

Abstract

A time recorder having associated intermittent biometric sensor and comparison apparatus is provided. The time recorder comprises a time recording mechanism for recording the presence of a worker, upon entry of a worker specific identifier at the time recording mechanism. A memory circuit is provided for storing records of worker specific biometric reference data, each record being associated with a worker specific identifier. A biometric sensor operates to sense biometric data associated with the worker present at the sensor. An intermittent comparison circuit operates to intermittently compare the sensed biometric data to the biometric reference data associated with the worker specific identifier entered at the time recording mechanism. A printing circuit or video display circuit operates to generate printed indicia representative of the comparison between the sensed biometric data and the biometric reference data associated with the worker specific identifier entered at the time recording mechanism.

1 . A time recorder having associated intermittent biometric sensor and comparison apparatus comprising: 
 a. a time recording mechanism for recording the presence of a worker upon entry of a worker specific identifier at the time recording mechanism;    b. a memory circuit for storing records of worker specific biometric reference data, each record being associated with a worker specific identifier;    c. a biometric sensor operative to sense biometric data associated with a worker present at the sensor;    d. an intermittent comparison circuit, for intermittently comparing the sensed biometric data to the biometric reference data associated with the worker specific identifier entered at the time recording mechanism; and    e. an indicator circuit operative to generate indicia representative of the comparison between the sensed biometric data and the biometric reference data associated with the worker specific identifier entered at the time recording mechanism.    
   
   
       2 . The time recorder as recited in  claim 1  wherein the indicator circuit is a printer to generate the visible indicia.  
   
   
       3 . The time recorder as recited in  claim 2  wherein the biometric sensor circuit is a fingerprint detection circuit.  
   
   
       4 . The time recorder as recited in  claim 2  wherein the biometric sensor circuit is a voice detection circuit.  
   
   
       5 . The time recorder as recited in  claim 2  wherein the biometric sensor circuit is an eye feature detection circuit.  
   
   
       6 . The time recorder as recited in  claim 2  wherein the intermittent comparison circuit includes a variable control circuit for varying the rate of comparing the biometric data in relation to recording the presence of the worker.  
   
   
       7 . The time recorder as recited in  claim 2  further comprising a processor operatively associated with the time recording mechanism, for regulating operation of the time recording mechanism in response to an instruction set operating in the processor.  
   
   
       8 . The time recorder as recited in  claim 7  wherein the processor regulates the operation of the biometric sensor.  
   
   
       9 . The time recorder as recited in  claim 8  wherein the processor regulates the operation of the memory circuit.  
   
   
       10 . The time recorder as recited in  claim 9  wherein the intermittent sampling circuit is implemented by the processor.  
   
   
       11 . The time recorder as recited in  claim 7  wherein the processor regulates the operation of the printing circuit.  
   
   
       12 . The time recorder as recited in  claim 10  wherein the processor instructs the printer circuit to print a message that sensed biometric data from the worker conforms to referenced biometric data associated with the worker specific identifier entered at the time recording mechanism.  
   
   
       13 . The time recorder as recited in  claim 10  wherein the processor instructs the printer circuit to print a message that sensed biometric data from the worker does not conform to referenced biometric data associated with the worker specific identifier entered at the time recording mechanism.  
   
   
       14 . The time recorder as recited in  claim 10  wherein the processor instructs the printer circuit to print a message that no comparison has been made between the sensed biometric data and referenced biometric data associated with the worker specific identifier entered at the time recording mechanism.  
   
   
       15 . The time recorder as recited in  claim 1  wherein the indicator circuit is a display monitor to generate the visible indicia.  
   
   
       16 . The time recorder as recited in  claim 15  wherein the processor instructs the printer circuit to print a message that sensed biometric data from the worker conforms to referenced biometric data associated with the worker specific identifier entered at the time recording mechanism.  
   
   
       17 . The time recorder as recited in  claim 15  wherein the processor instructs the printer circuit to print a message that sensed biometric data from the worker does not conform to referenced biometric data associated with the worker specific identifier entered at the time recording mechanism.  
   
   
       18 . The time recorder as recited in  claim 15  wherein the processor instructs the printer circuit to print a message that no comparison has been made between the sensed biometric data and referenced biometric data associated with the worker specific identifier entered at the time recording mechanism. The time recorder as recited in  claim 1  wherein the worker specific identifier is applied to an employee badge.  
   
   
       19 . The time recorder as recited in  claim 1  wherein the worker specific identifier is applied to an identification card.  
   
   
       20 . The time recorder as recited in  claim 19  wherein the identification card is a timecard.  
   
   
       21 . The time recorder as recited in  claim 1  wherein the worker specific identifier is an interrogatable electronic device.